Became the Idiot Young Master Who Tormented the Main Character

4 – #4. Fixing My Danjeon (2)

“That’s enough for today, miss.”

“Ah, no! I can keep going, Iris! I still have energy left!”

“No. Any more would be too strenuous. Let’s stop here for today and rest, miss.”

“Ugh…”

Iris, Sarah’s swordsmanship tutor, looked at Sarah covered in bruises from sparring and gently put down her wooden sword.

It had already been 3 months since Iris was appointed as a tutor to the young Brace house lady.

Teaching Sarah swordsmanship every time left her with no choice but to feel pity.

“Rest and resume later tonight. Pushing yourself further now will burden your body.”

“Master! …Please, just one more round. Really, just one more is enough…!”

“Miss Sarah.”

Iris called Sarah’s name in an uncompromising yet dignified tone.

Then Sarah fell silent, looking at Iris.

Sarah already knew what would follow.

“That’s enough for today.”

The moment Iris spoke, Sarah tightly shut her mouth, seeming vexed, and nodded reluctantly.

With a voice barely containing her frustration, she conceded.

“…Yes.”

Iris turned away from Sarah bowed apologetically.

Then she quietly sighed as she left the training grounds.

“…Ah.”

Sarah had little talent.

That’s why seeing her try so hard like this naturally made Iris feel pity.

At best she had the talent of a sword expert.

“Ah.”

Iris sighed worriedly once more and headed to the guest bath to wash her sweat-drenched body.

While walking, she contemplated what method would be most efficient to teach Sarah tonight.

As she walked like that.

“Haap!”

A loud, sonorous kiai came from somewhere.

It was from the backyard, a place rarely visited by servants and butlers.

‘What’s that…’

Her curiosity piqued, she stealthily hid against the fence and secretly peeked over at the backyard.

“Haap!”

A fat man was practicing swordsmanship on the other side of the yard.

‘The second son of Count Brace…?’

He seemed to be repeating the basic three stage sword technique, vertical slash, struggling with his large body.

‘I heard he had no interest in swordsmanship or magic though…’

To think he was secretly training here in such an deserted area, it made her curious.

‘I’ll just take a quick look…’

Her conscience pricked her but Iris was already in the grasp of curiosity.

“Haap!”

The young lord opened his eyes wide and swung the sword sharply.

-Whoosh!

Each time he put his kiai into a swing, the sound of a fierce sword stroke using proper core strength and minimal arm muscles could be heard.

‘Oh my…’

Iris rubbed her chin, impressed.

‘The rumors of him having no interest in swordsmanship were false, it seems.’

The young lord’s motions were clearly those of a seasoned practitioner used to swinging a sword.

Not something that would come from slacking sword training at the academy. His level was similar to Sarah now, or slightly more refined.

“Haap!”

The young lord swung a second sword stroke.

Excellent. More than the previous swing, this showed intention to reduce unnecessary movement.

However, it wasn’t without flaws.

There was too much strength. Despite intending to reduce strength, the arm should follow the sword even more smoothly like flowing water.

‘I can’t hold back.’

The meddlesome Iris approached the young lord.

Having seemingly just finished training, the young lord sat breathing heavily.

Iris went behind him and touched his shoulder.

“May I take a look at your swordplay?”

“Wah!”

He startled badly at that, yelping and tumbling away.

Heh heh.

Iris enjoyed his reaction. It was one of her less kind tendencies.

“W-Who is it…?”

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The young lord looked at Iris with wide eyes.

“Oh, pardon my late introduction. I’m the swordsmanship tutor Iris, appointed as Lady Sarah’s home tutor some time ago.”

“Iris…?”

The young lord’s eyes grew large.

He must’ve heard of me.

One of Brace Duchy’s 3 Sword Masters. Iris.

She was famous for incorporating swordsmanship with active mana manipulation.

The young lord spoke knowingly, exaggeratedly reacting.

“Iris! It really is Iris. Wow… seeing you in person for the first time… or rather, there’s no choice but to see you in person for the first time.”

His reaction seems somewhat overly excited but well, no matter.

“Please pardon my rudeness, I watched your swordsmanship practice due to curiosity. I apologize.”

“Ah, no. More than that, you’re really going to look at my swordsmanship…?”

“Yes. I just finished Lady Sarah’s training for today, so I have time now.”

“Great. I’m really grateful.”

“Then let me take a look right away. What sword technique are you most confident in?”

“Um…”

The young lord hesitated, seeming troubled.

What is it? Is he the type to be very shy usually?

The young lord was briefly silent then spoke.

“I uh… actually don’t know any techniques.”

“…Pardon?”

What does he mean.

After consistently learning swordsmanship at the academy, he should at least be able to perform basic 1 second techniques.

Is he talking roundaboutly to avoid learning?

“Don’t be shy, it’s alright. I seem to have disrupted your practice.”

“Ah, no! It’s not that… I really never learned any techniques, that’s why.”

“You never learned techniques…? Not even 1 second techniques?”

Iris did not understand.

How could he dexterously perform such basic sword techniques, yet claim to have never learned even a single basic move?

“May I ask…how long have you been holding a sword?”

“Just now.”

“……”

Surely he must be joking.

The vertical slash she had secretly observed was clearly the movement of a skilled swordsman.

It made no sense if he wasn’t lying about his experience to gain praise and be taken on as a disciple by a Sword Master.

“…Very well. In that case, allow me to teach you the 1-second stance.”

Iris scoffed internally and picked up the wooden sword left on the ground by the scholar.

She then demonstrated the most basic sword technique – the 1-second stance of Lightning Sword Style.

Using only her body without any aid from a spirit stone, she moved nimbly like lightning with rapid thrusts to cripple the opponent.

Iris’ body moved flexibly. In an instant, she pulled the sword back as if to slash then closed the distance in a nimble footwork maneuver, spun around, and thrusted with the momentum.

Swish!

The sharp sound of the sword slicing the air could be heard.

“Oh my!”

The scholar who was observing from behind applauded.

“That was the fundamental 1-second stance of Lightning Sword Style. I’ve given you a demonstration, so now try to imitate it once.”

“Uh…”

Surely he would mimic it perfectly and boast about grasping it in one try.

That was the usual attitude of those seeking praise.

Unfortunately, Iris wasn’t one to exert effort without profit. She wouldn’t have offered to teach him if not for the money from teaching Miss Sarah.

Around the time Iris was thinking this…

‘Impossible!’

Something unbelievable happened.

Clumsy footwork with his left and right feet tangled up.

Despite attempting to imitate her, his awkward spinning resembled a fat man flailing about.

Lastly, a thrust so far from the original Iris could barely believe he claimed it was an imitation.

Even a blind person could tell.

This scholar truly did not know how to perform the stance.

‘What is this? Is he an exceptionally skilled actor? No, that makes no sense when he gains nothing from it.’

Could the excellent vertical slash from earlier have merely been a fluke?

No… She had already confirmed his skill with her own eyes several times.

His movements were clearly honed from long hours training, not simple luck.

However, if his claim of never holding a sword before was genuine…

…Iris needed proof to resolve her doubts.

“Pardon me… Do most people grasp stances instantly after a single viewing?”

“That is not the case. Also, may I trouble you to demonstrate that vertical slash from earlier one more time?”

“…Is it true you just held a sword for the first time?